I cant see my answers.
Yes they should for others. But I only play solo. And I am running a server for mp. In fact Im running two servers for mp games and hosting a total of 14 games (1 demo_only, 6 2-4 player blitz games, 3 10-player mid sized games, 1 super map game, and 3 beta games)
Ive also provided backup accounts for some long-running games. Particularly play-by-email ones.
Backups are like any backup needs. Its always a good idea. Just set the --preexec command to zip up the gamesave and put it somewhere. Maybe even mail it yourself on a different machine such as a junky yahoo account. That way if the hosting machine crashes then it can be sent to someone else to continue hosting it.
The idea of cost might be a good idea to bring up since I think Shrapnel already said they were interested but the problem wasnt the server, it was someone to run it. Of course, if many people say they would be willing to pay then maybe one of the players would be willing to run one.
(by the way, historically on such polls. Only one in ten of the peope who say they will pay for it actually show up later. But its still a good poll.)